Emotions come and go. They ebb and flow like the ocean waves.  Sometimes they blindside us and we wonder where in the world it came from! 

The problem is that if we allow our emotions to control us, we are like a small oar-less rowboat in that ocean, being tossed to and fro with no ability to steer our way clear of those waves. We are out of control and unable to control our path.  God created us and gave us emotions, but He also gave us the ability to control those emotions. ...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...  2 Corinthians 10:5  NKJV

​Yes, people "hurt our feelings".  Things they say and do bring feelings of sadness, hurt and anger. They prick our deep scars of rejection and insecurity. We feel disrespected, treated unfairly, made fun of.  Often the hurt gives way to anger, because we don't mind showing anger but not our hurt because that "feels weak".

Those feelings aren't sins, but almost immediately the spirit of offense comes and you will choose to either embrace or reject that spirit.  That is when sin enters in.  Offense is one of Satan's most effective "tools" against believers.  The companion spirit of offense is unforgiveness. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,  nor give place to the devil.   Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV  The emotion will come, you will experience it, but you must not embrace the spirits that come right behind those emotions to tempt you into sin. 

Remember:  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

​Yes, there is a way of escape from embracing the spirits of offense and unforgiveness:  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 NKJV  Self-control!  If only self-control could be prayed on you or given to you with anointing oil.  It is in you, but you must work it, and build it by getting filled with the Word, listening to the Holy Spirit as your guide and exercising your self-control every day.  Every time you consciously reject the spirits of offense and unforgiveness, your self-control will get stronger and each time it will become easier!

I can testify that this is true in my own life.  When I was much younger, I lived in my feelings.  I didn't control them, they controlled me.  My mother used to say I "wore my feelings on my sleeves".  I was a carnal, immature believer.  When I got angry or hurt or disrespected, I embraced and nursed that offended spirit and its companion, unforgiveness!  I would cut that person out of my life and make them pay for what they had done to me (in my eyes).  One day, I heard teaching on the spirit of offense and what a strong weapon of Satan's it was!  It truly opened my eyes and I began the process of building my self-control.  I was determined to never be a tool used by Satan against my fellow believers! Nothing was so important that I would allow myself to be offended and harbor unforgiveness against anyone.

My purpose today is to show you the difference between our God-given emotions, and the spirits those emotions draw that want to tempt you to sin and embrace offense and unforgiveness.  If you claim to be a citizen in the Kingdom of God, I will say without reservation that it doesn't matter what someone did to you or said about you, you do not have the RIGHT to hold offense and unforgiveness toward ANYONE.  Recognize the emotion, feel it and let it go.  Then pray for those who have hurt you.  If Jesus could pray "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" as He died on the cross, you have no excuse.  Luke 23:34

Once you have determined that you will not embrace offense and unforgiveness, no matter what happens or how you feel in the moment, there is such peace.  Trust me, it becomes easier every time to keep your peace and forgive.  Offense and unforgiveness will "eat you" from the inside out.  Peace is a healing balm to your spirit.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

Want peace?  Pray for those who have hurt you:  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...  Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Are you a "doer"?  I am. Give me an assignment, a problem, an idea and I will begin to formulate a plan and a way to make it happen.  Show me a messy desk and I will begin organizing it in my head.  Yes, I'm a doer.  Why, even God's Word talks about being a "doer of the Word"! But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ​ James 1:22-24 NKJV

But one thing a doer may have trouble with is resting in faith that God will do what you cannot do and fulfill His purpose in you.  Doers don't wait well.  Sarai must have been a doer.  She couldn't rest in faith that God could actually give her a son at her advanced age.  She had to "help" God with that promise.  But when she worked it out her way, she ended up with Ishmael and problems!

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.  So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.  So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.  But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.  Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault!  I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
Genesis 16:1-6  NLT

In 2018, God is greatly changing my life from one that was predictable, stable and even monotonous to one of great unknowns.   Every time God has blessed me with something much better and answered my prayers, He has first removed most of what was my  life.  It was as if He was wiping the slate clean to start again.  It is during those times when the problems seem too big--too many--too impossible, He was also teaching me to rest in Him rather than be a doer.  

I don't want an Ishmael.

I can do "good" in my own strength.  I can take a project, get a plan, break it down and give it a timeline.  I can bring order to chaos.  But I can't do the impossible, the miraculous.  And that is what I'm praying for now.

And the Holy Spirit said "Rest in Him. Have faith".  That is how we get the impossible...the great!  But that is harder than doing!  This year, in this season, I must learn to "be"...To be at peace in every situation... Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13 NLT  ...To be His child, with childlike faith that says I believe my God is able to do everything He has promised.  I can't work it out in my finite mind, but my God all ready has.  

The Lord kept His word and did for Sarah exactly what He had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.  And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me.  Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”  Genesis 21:1-7  NLT

Can you imagine a couple that old even being alive and well, let alone to have a baby and nurse him?!  Miraculous!  Now what has God promised you that you can't do in your own strength?  What is the heart's desire you have been asking God for?  If it is your heart's desire, it is not anything a doer can make happen in their own strength.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and He will help you.  Psalm 37:3-5 NLT

Take a deep breath....you don't have to make this happen.  You just have to TRUST Him.  Breathe out...now, rest in Him.  Your Isaac is coming, but it is only in His strength, not yours. 
​
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you